"Welcome, esteemed guests from the Land of Water!"
In the Hokage's office of Konohagakure, Minato Namikaze, clad in the Hokage robe, sat on a reception sofa alongside several emissaries and guards from the Land of Water.
Among the guards, one individual stood out the most. He appeared to be a young man around seventeen years old, tall with long, dark blue hair. His face, skin tone, and sharp teeth bore a striking resemblance to a shark, and even his pupils mirrored those of a shark's eyes.
On his back were two fish-shaped blades wrapped in white cloth, exuding an ominous and menacing aura.
Nearby, Genma Shiranui stood attentively, preparing tea for the delegation from the Land of Water.
"This must be Elder Karatachi of the Land of Water?"
"I've heard that the newly appointed Fourth Mizukage is one of your juniors?"
Minato spoke with a warm smile.
Elder Karatachi nodded slightly, but his gaze wandered toward the window, seemingly captivated by the sight of falling leaves drifting in the air.
"Greetings, Lord Hokage."
Over the past year, Elder Karatachi seemed to have aged significantly. The large braid on his chin had lost its once dazzling white luster, now appearing dull and gray.
"Lord Hokage, you are young and accomplished. Under your leadership, Konohagakure has flourished and grown strong. Truly, you are a leader among the Five Great Nations!"
Turning his gaze back to Minato, Elder Karatachi scrutinized him closely before offering his praise, as if drawn to the radiant and amiable aura emanating from him.
"You flatter me, Elder!"
"This is all thanks to the united efforts of the villagers, working together as one."
Minato gestured politely for the delegation to enjoy their tea, his tone humble and his smile gentle.
Elder Karatachi sighed softly as he lifted his teacup. "The unity of the villagers..."
"Indeed! If only our Kirigakure could achieve such unity..."
He quickly regained his composure, his eyes gleaming with determination as he continued. "Let's get straight to business!"
"I've come here for two matters!"
"First, to establish a friendly alliance treaty with your village—mutual cooperation, assistance, and a promise of non-aggression!"
"Second, I wish to request that you, Lord Hokage, personally travel to the Land of Water to help us capture the Three-Tails and seal it within a chosen Jinchūriki host!"
"This..."
Even Minato, who had been Hokage for a year, was taken aback by Elder Karatachi's words.
According to reports from Konohagakure's Anbu, Sunagakure and Kumogakure had already formed an alliance. It was said that Sunagakure had even sent Ebizō to negotiate with Iwagakure.
Although Iwagakure had not expressed a clear stance, the increasingly frequent trade between the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind suggested that some form of agreement had been reached.
If this were true, Konohagakure would once again find itself surrounded on three fronts...
Perhaps the Land of Water had taken note of this and decided to propose an alliance.
However, the mention of the Three-Tails immediately brought to Minato's mind two of his students. Rin's death was inextricably linked to Kirigakure, and because of this, Kakashi still carried an air of melancholy to this day.
Noticing Minato's furrowed brows, Elder Karatachi seemed to have anticipated his reaction.
He continued, "Regarding our village's actions during the Third Great Ninja War, the late Third Mizukage confided in me before his passing. He was influenced by a mysterious organization, which led him to make those decisions."
"On behalf of Kirigakure, I extend our most sincere apologies to Konohagakure!"
"We earnestly hope that Konohagakure can let go of past grievances and rebuild the friendship between our two nations!"
Elder Karatachi's face was filled with remorse as he struggled to his feet, bowing deeply in apology.
Despite his advanced age, Elder Karatachi's strength was formidable. Even the guards who tried to assist him were brushed aside with a single hand.
Swoosh!
In a flash, Minato appeared in front of Elder Karatachi, supporting him before he could falter.
"There's no need for such formality, Elder!"
"This organization has been gaining prominence recently. They've established their base in the Land of Rain, and it's highly likely that the disappearance of the Seven-Tails from Takigakure was also their doing."
"Their strength and methods are extraordinary. Many covert incidents in other villages, not just Kirigakure, are tied to them."
Moved by Elder Karatachi's sincerity, Minato smoothly shifted the blame onto the mysterious organization.
It wasn't entirely untrue, as the events of the night Kushina gave birth were still vivid in Minato's memory.
Now, it seemed that the Akatsuki Organization, which had suddenly surfaced, was one of the forces involved.
As for the opposing force from that night...
A fleeting shadow of concern crossed Minato's face. In a ninja world filled with hidden dangers, having more allies was undoubtedly better than more enemies.
After all, politics is the art of compromise.
"Rest assured, Elder. I've received your village's sincerity."
Minato gently helped Elder Karatachi back to his seat before returning to his own.
"Speaking of which, when the nine Tailed Beasts were divided, it was the First Hokage who led the effort. Our Kirigakure has always supported the First Hokage's wise decisions."
"Peace among the great nations requires balance!"
"It cannot be achieved through dominance by a single power. Recently, Sunagakure's development has been exceptionally rapid. Their current posture doesn't seem like one aiming to maintain the status quo..."
Elder Karatachi finally picked up his teacup, blowing on the rising steam as he subtly hinted at his concerns.
After the alliance treaty was finalized, Elder Karatachi requested to take a stroll through Konohagakure.
Minato readily agreed, assigning two Anbu to openly follow the delegation.
Amidst the bustling crowds, people of various professions moved about, each engaged in their own activities.
Golden sunlight bathed the redwood and white walls of the village. The protruding eaves and hanging shop banners created a vibrant and lively scene.
To the west, numerous vendors and villagers sold goods ranging from knives and scissors to miscellaneous items. There was even a stall selling grilled meat. The busiest spot, however, was a ramen shop.
"Konohagakure..."
"It's so vast and prosperous..."
Elder Karatachi gazed at the endless stream of people in the village's central street, their faces filled with contentment and ease. He couldn't help but sigh.
He suddenly recalled the expressions of Kirigakure's villagers in the past—faces filled with fear, worry, vigilance, or cruelty.
Fortunately, the "Village of the Bloody Mist" policy had finally come to an end under his leadership.
For that, he had to thank Sōmi, who had cleared out the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, the Fourth Mizukage's confidants, and the volatile Kaguya clan.
This had allowed Elder Karatachi's reforms to proceed smoothly.
"Let's go!"
"Back to the village. No matter how prosperous this place is, it's not our home..."
With a wave of his hand, Elder Karatachi turned and headed toward the village gates.
Behind him, the shark-faced man suddenly noticed a black-haired youth in the crowd.
The youth was holding a baby in his arms, his right hand clutching a skewer of tri-colored dango. The baby reached out eagerly for the dango.
Beside the youth stood a young girl with long, silky black hair. A tear-shaped beauty mark adorned the corner of her right eye. Dressed in a purple outfit, she smiled sweetly at the youth.
The black-haired youth seemed to sense something, his gaze cutting through the dense crowd and locking onto the shark-faced man.
The two stared at each other.
For some reason, the cold and indifferent shark-faced man managed a faint smile.
It was as if fate itself had orchestrated this moment.
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
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